Fluid distribution system



Sept. 21, 1937.

A. D. MacLEAN ET AL FLUID DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM 4 Sheets-Sheet l Bnuentors Allen 9 Maaean Filed April 19, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 A. D. M LEAN ET AL FLUID DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM Filed April 19, 1933 Sept. 21, 1937.

Allen D Mac Lean Fri/z Nz'esemann Sept. 21, 1937. A. o. M LE AN ET AL 2,093,842

FLUID DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM Filed April 19, 1933 4 Sheets-Shae; 3

All

15 ml e a 3mm Allen D. MacLea n Fri/z M'esemann X/MQ M Sept. 21, 1937.

A. D. M LEAN Er AL FLUID DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM Filed April 19, 1933 ZERO NEEDLE VALVE SETTWG 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 N Hi I H! CUBIC FEET PER HOUR Fig. 7

- E 'Hg. 9.

ADJUSTMENT CoEFHgENT 8 NEEDLE VALVE SETTING ?atented Sept. 21, 1937 FLUID DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM Allen D. MacLean, Wilkinsburg, and Fritz Niosemann, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignors to Pittsburgh Equitable Meter Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation'of Pennsylvania Application April 19, 1933, Serial No. 666,906

' 11 Claims.

This invention relates to fluid distribution systerns which are intended to maintain the pressure substantially constant at the low pressure point in the system by automatically varying the fluid pressure in the system in accordance with the withdrawal of fiuid therefrom.

When new gas distribution pipe systems are laid in a district the pipe is selected of larger diameter than called for by present requirements in expectation of an increase in gas consumption by the district as it develops and the use of gas appliances increase. The gas pressure at these districts is controlled by the usual diaphragm type of gas pressure regulator which maintains the pressure constant in the line. As the demand increases in such a community the point eventually is reached where the pipe main is not large enough to supply the demand at peak loads and maintain the required pressure. Many old sys- 20 tems have already reached this stage of development and the remedy lies in the laying of new pipe of larger diameter or in boosting the pressure at peak loads to maintain the required pressure at the points'of lowest pressure in the line.

Heretofore, the pressure in the low pressure main has been increased or boosted by manually loading the district regulators by the addition of weights to the diaphragm, and it has been proposed to automatically boost the pressure by employing a Venturi tube, the throat of the Venturi tube being connected to the diaphragm chamber of the regulator to govern its action in accordance with this pressure drop. The district reguv lators are usually housed in concrete underground 35 pits which are costly to construct and therefore are made as small as feasible. The use of a Venturi tube for governing the regulator would require enlarging the pit to include the Venturi tube, and therefore is costly. j H v Eur-thenthere usually is no data available as to. the rate of flow required in suchdistricts, and the required dimensions of Venturi tube can be determined only by trial and test. The insertion and removal of Venturi tubes is very difilcult, and further, such tubes are very costly tomanufacture because of the great accuracy required for the interior ofthe tube. Other low pressure producing elements, heretofore proposed have a smaller percentage regain in pressure than a Venturi tube and thereforerequire that an in creasein the pipe line pressure tothe regulator inlet be supplied in order to maintain the de sired pressure boost at the outlet. This usually requires the installation of additional compresessors. .T A v Furthermore, where the regulators arelocated relatively close to each otherthere maybe a tendency; for one vor more of the, regulators to e carry more than its share,v of the load, and without flow data of the pipe line it is practically impossible to properly set the regulators equipped with booster attachments.

' Heretofore, it has not been possible directly to study the distribution system to determine which regulators were bearing the load of the line. Because of the low pressure employed an orifice meter or similar differential pressure recording apparatus could not be employed. Ordinarily, it requires a differential pressure of about five inches of water to operate an orifice meter and as the 10 usual pressure in the distribution mains is about six inches of water, and the use of a Venturi tube being almost prohibitive, any other known device which will create a differential pressure of five inches will seriously interfere with the capacity of the line to carry gas. Direct metering also is not feasible because of the cost of displacement meters and because of the pressure losses caused by such meters. Further, even if a. diiferential pressure is created high enough to operate a metering device the variations in pressure in the line are liable to decrease this pressure difference to the point where the meter ceases to function.

In distribution systems of this type it is desirable to maintain a predetermined minimum presconstant, the pressure in'the distribution main at the point in the line of lowest 'pressm'e, which usually is the point farthest removed from the regulator. 'Also, it is desirable that this increase in pressure; which technically is called the boost, shall not goabove a predetermined maximum, so that one regulator cannot build up a pressure in the line which would render partially inoperative the other regulators and thus bear all the load, or buildup an excessive pressure in the line.

According to the present invention the pressure 40 conditions atthepoint of 'lowest pressurein the distribution main during minimum demand. is simulatedat a point'in the main near the regulator and the pressure at such point is transmitted to the regulator which is set to maintain constant this simulated pressure and vary the pressurein thev main in accordance therewith under variableconditions of demand in the main. The element employedto create the low pressure point'in themain is'shorte'nough to be us'ed'in existing regu-i lator pits and has a high'perceritage'of pressure recovery so that it is. superior to'othe'r short devices heretofore preposed" for this purpose. Further, adjustment is provided" whereby the 55 maximum predetermined boost; or any pressure intermediate of the simulat'ed 'lowpre'ssureand the maximum predetermined boost may betransmated teg the regulator: and provision also is made to' transmit the effect or full boost "to the 0 regulator to maintain constant the pressure in the main at periods of high demand.

The adjustment or the system asa whole is facilitated by an improved measuring system which also forms a part 01 the present invention and in combination with the regulator enables a study to be made of the system to substantially equalize the load on the various regulators. The,

element employed for providing a pressure drop in the low pressure main produces a large pressure drop for small variations'of fiow, and a portion or the whole of the "pressure drop can be employed in connection with various pressure responsive devices including the pressure responsive means of said regulator and/or a diflerential pressure meter. 1

In the-preferred specific embodiment oi the invention the point of low pressure is produced by a combination of orifice plate and inserted Venturi tube section, the combination being secured in a body portion adapted to form substantiallya continuation of the low pressure main in whichit is inserted. Such a device has a much higher percentage of recovery than an orifice 1 plate alone, and is only a few inches in length and therefore can easily be placed in a regulator pit. The throat of the inserted Venturi section is connected by a conduit to the diaphragm chamber of the regulator.

when it is desired to cut down; the boost-developed in this device, a normal pressure point in the main is connected by a conduit through an adjustable valve with the throat or the Venturi section, and by proper adjustment of this valve the fiow through the conduits from the point 0! normal pressure .to the'throat of the Venturi section is controlled to produce a pressure gradient and any point 015 this gradient can be connectedto the regulator to control the boost in the main. For the sake oi simplicity and compactness the normal pressure point is selected in the body portion sothat all pipe connections are made thereto. However, it is more convenient to select a tire pressure gradient occurs, the r gradient in the control cham Y point for connection to the regulator and control the pressure gradient at such point. This is preferably accomplished by providing two restrictions in said conduits, one or both or which are adjustable, the space therebetween providing a control chamber within which practically the enoonnected to said control chamber.

Y The measurement or fiow in connection with the booster is accomplished by connecting a conventional orifice meter gauge with the points of normal' pressure and the throat'ot the Venturi section, and as the regulator is connected to the control chamber the orifice meter is not aflected by changes in the valve to adjust the pressure Aooordimlm-it is one object oi! the invention to produce a pressure diflerential in a fluid distributing system to operate a pressure boosting, apparatus and a measm'ing device so thatvariations in rate of flowwill notrender inoperative the pressure differential: measuring device.

Another, obiect or the present invention is to provide an apparatus for controlling the pressure in a fluid distribution system in accordance with variations in demand to maintain pressure at or aboveapredeterminedvaiueinallpartsorthe Another object is to provide novel apparatus for fluid pressurein' accordance with tor being fiuid fiow so as to boost the pressure in the main when the fluid flow increases.

A further object is to simulate the pressure conditions at the low pressure point in the main at a point in the vicinity of the regulator and boost the pressure in the main to keep the simulated pressure constant at various rates of flow.

A further object is the provision or a diflerential pressure producing device which is compact and has a high ratio of recovered pressure to operate as a pressure booster.

A further object is to multiply the pressure drop across a restriction in the main to secure a pres.- sure differential to operate a volume measuring apparatus, which difierential will remain great enough under varying conditions or demand to operate the volume measuring apparatus.

' Other objects are to provide a device for creat- I ing and transmitting a diiiere'ntial pressure, which is compact, simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and can be placed in existing regulator pitsgwhich can be adjusted with precision, and can be replaced with a'minimum oi labor.

with the foregoing objects in view, as well as others that will appear irom-the'following disclosure and the scope'oi. the appended claims reference will be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, and in which Figure 1 is a view partly in section showing the combined pressure regulator and' diflerentlal pressure measuring device; Figure 2 is a detail sectional view of the insert and-connections;- Figme 3 is a detail cross-section view of the safety regulator taken on line 33 orFig. 2; Figure 4 is a sche-.

ations in pressure difference produced by various sized orifice plates; Figure 8 shows the variation in boosting and metering coefficients and Figure 9 shows a partly diagrammatic proving apparatus for determining the curves in Figures '7 and 8.

Referring to the drawings, the numerals l and 2 represent high'an'd low pressure mains respectivelywith a regulator body indicated by the numeral 2. and a valve therein indicated generally by'a numeral 3 therebetween. The valve I is connected by a iulcrumed'lever l to the operating stem 8 oi! a pressure responsive device indicated generally by the numeral 6 having a pressure responsive means such as a'diaphragm 1 therein of suitable construction and a sealing present I difl'erential pressure diaphragm l to separate the fluid pressure regulating chamber 9 from the pressure in the re lator body 2'. The-diaphragm I is weighted in any suitable manner, as by a weight ll. The 7 low pressure main 2 hasinserted therein, at a suitable distance from the regulator body I an insert comprising a hollow cylindrical body member ll itably clamped by bolts it between the flange It or the regulator body and flange l4 0! an adjacent pipe section oi the main. The body member II is provided with an orifice plate ll therein, suitably secured to the internal shoulder l6 as-shown inFigure 2. The body member H also has a hole 20 therein through which passes the pipe or conduit 2|, which at one end is threaded into the body of an inserted Venturi section 22 positioned centrally and in stream-line relation in the opening 0! orifice plate II. The inserted Venturi section 2! consists oi two parts,

a body 23 having a concentric threaded recess 24 therein, and a threaded portion 25 which is threaded into the recess 24 in the main body so as to leave at the throat of the Venturi section an annular passage 26 which communicates by connecting passages 21 and 28 with the interior of the conduit 2|. A channel 29 in the body member communicates with a connecting channel 38 which has a hollow extension 3| suitably threaded therein, thereby providing an avenue 32 between the extension 3| and the conduit 2|.

As is well known, when an orifice plate, such as I5, is inserted in a pipe a pressure drop is produced and the area of minimum pressure known as the vena contracta is a short distance downstream from the orifice. It will be observed that the inserted Venturi section has its discharge approximately atthe location of the vena contracta and therefore the flow of that portion of gas which goes through the Venturi section discharges directly into the vena contracta, so that a greater velocity is secured through the Venturi section than normally would be obtained, and hence a greater pressure drop is obtained at the throat of the Venturi section and at annular ring 26 than exists at the vena contracta. One of the advantages of this arrangement of an orifice plate to Venturi is that within a very short space an area of extremely low pressure can be created and the overall pressure loss is much less than would be produced by an orifice plate alone which would be required to give the same reduction in pressure existing in the Venturi section. The pressure at annular ring 26 is proportional to the square of the velocity through the Venturi section.

At the exterior end of the extension 3| is secured a T-fitting 35 and inserted in one branch thereof is a ported body member 36 in which extends a longitudinal channel 31 therethrough terminating in a restricted portion 38 at its end which forms a seat 39 for a needle valve closure member 48 which will be hereinafter described in greater detail. A connecting L-shaped channel 4| in the ported body member communicates with a U-shaped pipe section 42 which in turn communicates with a suitably enlarged chamber 43 in the valve stem channel 44 of the bonnet member 45 suitably threaded into the ported body member 36. A valve stem 46 extends through the valve stem channel 44 and at its interior end is carried the needle valve closure member 48 which has tapered portions 41 and 48 at its ends. The valve stem, 46 has a threaded portion 58 which engages the similar threaded portion 5| of the bonnet 45, and at its external.

end has a valve stem operating member 52 secured thereon, which preferably is graduated and may be read in connection with the reference point on band 53 secured adjacent thereto on the bonnet 45 to show the position of the needle valve with respect to the valve seat 58. A packing gland 54 engages in a suitable packing chamber 55 around the valve stem 46 to prevent leakage past the stem. and the spring 56 coacts with the bonnet and stem operating member to frictionally retard turning of and to position the valve stem and closure member.

It will be apparent. that the construction so far described provides a control chamber 51 in the ported body 36, in which is located the valve closure member 48, and in effect is at the luncture of conduits 3| and 2|. The tapered end 41 of valve closure member 48 is adapted to seat in the seat 38 to close completely or govern the size of the restriction 38, while the tapered portion 48 is adapted to seat on the tapered seat 58 to close completely or govern the size of the restriction 48 between the valve stem 46 and valve stem passage 44. The valve stem passage 44 communicates at enlarged chamber 43 with conduit 42, which in turn communicates with L- shaped passage 4|, T-fitting 35, avenue 32 and eventually with the interior of the main through connecting passages 38 and 29. The restriction 38 communicates with the conduit 2| which in turn communicates with the low pressure area in the main through the connecting passages 28 and 21 and the annular recess 26 at the throat of the Venturi section 22.

The valve or control chamber 51 communicates with the regulator chamber 9 of the regulator or pressure responsive device 6 by a conduit 68. In efiect, the valve chamber 51 is formed between two restrictions 38 and 49 the size of which can be governed by movement of the valve closure member, and the conduit 68 leads therefrom to the regulator chamber 9.

The boost limiting device comprises a cross conduit consisting of conduits 6| and 62 connecting on either side of the valvechamber 63 and separated by the wall 64 havinga valve seat 65 therein. A valve closure member 66 is adapted normally to seat in said seat and prevent communication between conduits 6| and 62. Conduit 6| communicates with the T-fi'tting 35, and through avenue 32 and connecting channels 38, 28 with the interior of the low pressure main. Conduit 62 connects with the valve chamber 51, and through conduit 68 with the regulator chamber 9 of the regulator 6.

The action of the valve closure 66 is governed by the safety regulator indicated generally by the numeral 61 which contains a diaphragm 68 separating it into a regulator chamber 69 and a chamber 18 which is open to atmospheric pressure through the channels H in the vent cap 12. The diaphragm 68 may be loaded in any suitable manner, as by a spring 13, the tension of which is adjustable. The regulator chamber 69 is in communication with the conduit 6| as shown and is set to raise the valve closure member 66 from its seat and establish communication between conduits 6|. and 62 when the pressure in conduit 6| raises above a predetermined maximum. This permits the pressure in conduit 6| to be transmitted through conduit 62, valve chamber 51 and conduit 68 to the regulator chamber 9 of the regulator 6, and will raise the diaphragm therein to close the valve 3 and prevent the pressure from rising above the intended maximum.

The construction so far described relates to the regulator and pressure boosting arrangement. The boosting device varies the load the regulator carries, and in order to determine the load which each regulator in'a network is carrying and adjust the regulator. accordingly to carry its proper share of the load, a second pressure responsive device or metering device is incorporated with the booster, and the invention includes the combination of booster and metering device. The metering assembly comprises a caspressure in the low and, high pressure chambers of the meter. The meter itself is of well known construction and need not be described in greater detail.

On one sideof the valve chamber 51 (Figures 2 and 4) and in advance of the restriction 49 is connected a conduit 8| which communicates with the high pressure chamber of the differential pressure meter. As shown in Figure 2, this conduit is connected to the T-fitting 35 in any suitable manner so thatthe pressure will be transmitted thereto from the main through connecting channels 29 and 39 and avenue 32. Past the far side of the valve chamber 51 and adjacent the restriction 38 is connected a conduit 80 which communicates with the low pressure chamber of the diiferential pressure meter. 7 p The whole apparatus herein described is designed so that it can be set up on new installations or it, can be placed in existing pits employed iorprotecting the regulators heretofore employed. In order to accommodate the regulator housing 2' the main 2 is cut, as at 90, and a pipe section having the flange 14 at its opposite end is connected thereto by asleeve 9! having the internal flange or shoulder 92 thereon to limit movement of thesleeve on the pipes. A pair of tapered gaskets 93, 94 are placed at the ends,

of the sleeve between the sleeve and the pipe sections, and follower rings 95, '96 are adapted to be clamped in place by the bolts 91 to firmly secure the sleeve in place. It will be apparent that by this arrangement the pipe section 2 can be moved longitudinally merely by releasing the sleeve 9| ,to permit removal or replacement of the insert ll. 7 I

The operation of-the invention can be described best by reference to ,the diagrammatic view in Figure 4. In setting up and adjusting the apparatus the restriction 49 is closed, which opens restriction. 38 and subjects regulator chamber 9 to the iulleffect ofthe low pressure in the Venturi section 22. The pressure gradient on the line A--A is shown by the curve in Figure 4A. Given a constant flow in the main, as the gas flows through the orifice plate l5 and Venturi section 22, it causes a reduction in pressure as indicated by the point a on the curve A, Figure 4A which is almost completely recovered as indicated by the line a, the slight pressure loss being characteristic and due to the orifice and Venturi section. Under such condition the pressure gradient through the center of the main is a straight line until the Venturi section is reached where it is rapidly lowered to the minimum pressure at the throat of the Venturi section, and then gradually is raised again asit leaves the Venturi section to the low pressure main. The curve a shows the pressure drop that would be caused by the orifice alone.

Now if it is assumed that the flow remains the same and the valve closure member 40 is moved to open restriction 49 and still keep restriction 38 open, a fiow takes place from'the regulator body 2' through passages 29, 30, avenue 32, L-shaped passage 4|, tube 42 and passage 44 into valve chamber I 51 through the restriction 49, producing a lowering of pressure through the circuit traced which occurs mainly at restriction 49 as shown by the curve B in Figure 4B which shows the pressure gradient on line B-B, Figure 4. The flow further continues through the valve chamber as shown by the horizontal portion of the curve B designated c to the restriction 38 where another pressure drop occurs, and

from the restriction 38 the pressure drops more or less gradually through passage 31 and conduits 2|, 28 and 21 to the annular channel 26 to the throat of-the Venturi section as indi- B thus traced will represent the pressure gradient from the regulator body 2',-passag es 29, 30, avenue 32, L-shaped passage 4|, tube 42, passage 44, restriction 49, valve chamber 51, passage 31, conduits 2|, 28, 21 to annular channel 26 at the throat of the Venturi section. As the pressure drops in this course take place mainly at restrictions 49 and 38, it will be apparent that by varying these restrictions the pressure in valve chamber 51 can be controlled between maximum and minimum limits and the pressure at point e also will be varied. Thus, if restriction 38 is opened fully and restriction 49 is closed, the pressure in valve chamber 51 will be practically the same as at the throat of the Venturi section, and the curve showing the pressure gradient through the aforesaid conduits will be as shown by curve B in Figure 4B, and if the restriction 49 is opened less than for curve B the pressure in chamber 51 will be lower as indicated by the horizontal portion 0' of the curve B and the point e will be lower, as shown by e, the initial horizontal portions of the curves B, B, and B" being coincident. As the flow in each instance is assumed to be the same, the low point a and recovery a for each of the curves B, B and B" will be practically the same as in Figure 4A. Thus it will be seen the pressure in valve chamber 51 as shown by the horizontal parts c, c, and c" of the curves B, B, and B" can be varied up or down with relation to the pressure at the throat of the Venturi section by proper adjustment of the needle valve.

The pressure in valve chamber 51 is aifected only by adjustment of the needle valve when the fiow through main 2 is constant, but it is apparent that with a fixed setting of the needle valve any variation in flow in main 2 will likewise causev pressure in control chamber 5 is shown in the curves by the horizontalsections c, c, and c" becoming fixed and coinciding while the variation in flow causes the rest of the respective curves to shift as shown in Figure 4C. Consequently under conditions of constant flow with the regulator 6 connected, when the restriction 49 is closed the pressure gradient on the line B-B is shown by curve B", Figure 4C, and the position of horizontal line 0" will be determined by the amount of the weight ID on the diaphragm 1, and the remainder of the curve will be displaced in maintaining the line 0" at this constant ,value as shown. However, if the needle valve isset the same as shownby curve Bin Figure 4B, the flow meanwhile being constant,

the resulting pressure change tendency in chamber 51 is registered by the regulator 6 acting to and the valve 3 will be throttled somewhat by the regulator 6, thereby causing a lowering in the pressure in regulator inlet 2 and in main 2, and the curve B will assume the form and position shown in Figure 40, the line coinciding while the line 0 of the curve B and the parts of the curves B and B" shown coincident in Figure 4B now will become separate. Thus, the initial coincidental horizontalparts of the curves B and B" in Figure 4B become in Figure 40 A and A" respectively, and the recovery lines become a and b respectively. The pressure drop from A to b will be the same as from A to a, as the flow through main 2 is constant, and

the recovery from b to b will be the same as w from a to a.

Let it be assumed that at a certain condition of flow through the main 2 and with the stem operating member 52 set at the graduation 4 in line with the reference mark on scale 53, the curve B, Figure 40 represents the pressure gradient on the line B-B. With this setting, let it be assumed the flow through main 2 increases, due to increased consumer demand. This increase in flow will produce a greater overall pressure drop between the points A and b, with the result that the whole pressure gradient on the line B-B from A to b will be shifted in pro-. portion, including the pressure in chamber 51, and as the regulator 6 tends to keep the pressure in chamber 5! constant, the efl'ect is to increase the pressure difierence from A and b. The curve D Figure 40 represents this effect of change in flow. From an inspection of the curve it will be seen that the pressure in inlet 2' has risen to the point A, the metering point has risen to e", and the pressure in main 2 has risen to b", the difference between the lines I) and b" being the boost. Any further increase in demand will act in the same way to increase or boost the pressure in main 2 until the predetermined limit of boost is reached for which the regulator 6'! is set. When this limit is reached the pressure in the, conduit 6I opens the valve 66 the necessary amount to admit pressure into the valve chamber 51, and it will be evident that any tendency to increase the pressure in the regulator casing 2' merely opens the valve 66 further so as to maintain a constant pressure difference between the regulator casing 2 and valve chamber 57. Consequently, if the pressure in chamber 2' tends to increase it will tend to increase the pressure in chamber 51, and as the regulator 6 resists any increase in pressure in chamber 5'! above the setting of weights t0, it will act to close the valve 3 and maintain the pressure at 51 and in main 2 at the predetermined maximum. When the peak demand has passed and'flow starts to decrease,'the converse I action takes place until the pressure in the regulator outlet 2' and main 2 reach the predetermined minimum for which the valve member 40 is set, this being the line b as shown in Figure 4C.

The difierential pressure meter 15 is operated by pressure conducted thereto through the high pressure conduit 8| and low pressure conduit 80.

'As the avenue 32 is relatively large and has the restriction 49 at its end, the pressure transmitted through conduit 0! will be substantially that in the low pressure main 2' at the line A'A, and is represented in FigureAC for curves ,3, B", and D by the points A, ,A'Qand A'respecy, and as the conduit 2! widens past the re striction 38 and the conduit 00 is connected at this point, the low pressure transmitted to the meter will be the pressure at e. The pressures at points A and A, Figure 40, will vary for different settings of the needle yalve 40, as will likewise the pressures atthe points e. and e". Consequently in using the difierential pressure meter in connection with the pressure boosting arrangement it is necessary to determine the constant or system. Were no calibrations employed it would;

neitherbe possible to calibrate the meter nor find a constant for the meter because flow conditions could not be duplicated.

In the calibrating arrangement shown in Figure 9, like numerals correspond to like parts;

The insert II, orifice plate I5 and inserted Venturi section 22 are placed in a-conduit IOI which is connected to a supply of gas that can be controlled by a manually operated valve (not shown) to maintain the flow constant. A carefully machined orifice plate I02 is inserted in the discharge end of the pipe or conduit I0! and has a manometer I03 connected across the two sides of the plate I02. The flow of gas through the orifice I04 produces a pressure differential which causes a difierence in level in the liquid in the two arms of the manometer I03. The quantity of gas flowing through the orifice I04 for a given time and a given differential pressure can be cal-,

culated from the orifice formula.

of the manometer I06, while the other end of the manometer I08 is connected by a conduit I01 to r a point in the pipe IOI past the ,discharge of orifice plate I5. It will be apparent that when restriction 49 is closed by valve closure 40 the difierence in height of the liquid columns in manometer I06 represents the difierence between the pressure transmitted from the Venturi section 22 to the valve chamber 51 and the recov ered pressure in the conduit IOI, which is shown on the curve in Figure 4A as the difierence between point a and line a. For convenience this will be designated Hr. The metering conduits 80 and 8| are replaced in Figure 9 by the conduits H0 and III respectively connected to the arms of a manometer II2. With restriction 49 closed the difierence in height of the liquid columns in manometer I I2 represents the difference between the pressure transmitted from the Venturi section 22 to the conduit H0 and the original pressure of the gas at passage 29. On the curve 'in Figure 4A, this is shown as the difierence between the point a and the initial horizontal part of curve A. For convenience this is designated as Ha. He is always greater. than Hr, as will be apparent from the curve in Figure 7 wherein Hr represents therecovery pressure from a to a.

vFor a given size pipe the quantities He and Hr will vary for different sizes of orifice plates and for difierent rates of flow. In Figure 7 the rate of flow is plotted against pressure diflerence with needle valve setting at zero, the curves N and N representing respectively He and Hr for a certain size pipe when a certain size orifice plate I5 is employed, and the curves M and M, L L and K K represent these values for other orifice plates having smaller orifices. The curves in Figure '7 hold good for He and Hr only when restriction 48 is closed, and restriction 38 is fully open.

When valve member 48 is moved to an intermediate position between the restrictions 38 and 48 shown for the curve B, Figure 43, it will be seen that because the metering connections are on either side of restrictions 88 and 48 the pressure difierence indicated by manometer H2 will no longer be He but will be the difference between the point e' on curve B and the coincidental initial horizontal portion of B, For convenience this value is designated as Hm, and thedifference in pressure between the valve chamber 51 designated on the curve by horizontal line and the horizontal portion of the curve at a is the loading effect or boost and is designated as Hb. In Figure 9. Hb is measured by manometer I86 with the restriction 48 open. It will be apparent that as the values of H4 and Hr with the needle valve setting at zero are known, this being shown by the curves in Figure 7, the values of Hm and Hb could be computed for any setting of the needle valve if the proper coefiicient were known to correlate these values.

Infigure 8 the needle valve setting as indicated by the graduations on member 52 is plotted against the adjustment coeificient. The curve Cm represents the adjustment coefiicient for converting Ha to Hm.

By the general orifice formula As applied to the curves in Figure '7, we have the formula As the volume remains constant, it will be apparent that for given position of the needle valve the values He and Hm bear a definite relation which is indicated by the constant Cm in the formula Likewise, for a given position of the needle valve Formula (2) becomes substituting from Equation (4) in this formula 'K..=K simplifying Thus, as the value of Cm for a given setting of the needle valve can be found from the curve in Figure '8, and the value Kn can be found from the curve in Figure '7 by assuming H=l, the constant Km in Formula (5) becomes known. To calculate volume, Formula (5) is used wherein the square root of the reading of the differential pressure of the orifice meter is multiplied by the value of Km.

The curve 0:, in Figure 8 represents the adjustment coefiicient for correlating Hr to Hb.

(10) Ha=Cb-Ha (11 the value Hd-Hr=Hl from Figure 4A, subtracting H1 from both sides of Equation (11) In this formula it is likewise possible to find the value of Cb for a given setting of the needle valve from the curve in Figure 8, He can be found from the curve in Figure '7, Hi can likewise be found from this curve and Hb can therefore be calculated. In this way it can be determined beforehand what-boost will be produced by a given setting of the needle valve.

The relation of the various regulators of a gas distribution system will be seenin Figure 5 wherein numeral 85 indicates a gas manufacturing plant or other source of supply, the double lines 86 represent high pressure mains, 81, 81', etc. represent the present improved regulator, and 88 represents the low pressure mains. As shown by the lines 88, the sphere of influence in the low pressure main of the various regulators is irregular and indefinite and overlap as shown by the broken lines. The regulators themselves usually are placed wherever experience shows them to be needed, and without reference to any .geometrical plan. Considering for example, regulators 81, 81, and 81", it will be seen that the sphere of influence of these regulators is overlapped, and that although the pressure at each regulator may be the same it still will be possible for one or more regulators to carry more than its share of the load, and heretoforeno satisfactory way was known for determining how the load was being distributed. However, by incorporating the present improved meter with the regulator the actual fiow through the regulator can be determined, and the needle valve 48 then can be set in each regulator to properly distribute the load.

Figure 6 shows a modification in which the orifice plate I5 is in advance of the Venturi section, and the mouth of the Venturi section is placed at the vena contracta. In this construction the pressure transmitted through the channel 28 and avenue 32 will be downstream pressure, but the principle of operation will be substantially the same as the modification of Figure 2. v

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit oressential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment therefore is to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rathenthanby the foregoing description, and .all changes which come Within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:-

1. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of high and low pressure mains, valve means controlling passage between said mains, a body portion adapted to be inserted in the low pressure main between two pipe sections to form substantially a continuation thereof. an orifice plate secured to sa d body portion, a Venturi section adjacent said orifice plate and attached to said body'portion and arranged to discharge adjacent the vena contracta of said orifice plate, a conduit connected for flow between the minimum pressure area of the inserted Venturi section and the surrounding area in the body portion adjacent said orifice plate. and pressure responsive means connected to said conduit for operating said valve means.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of high and low pressure mains, a valve between said mains, a pressure responsive chamber having means connected to said valve for controlling fiow between said mains, a restriction in the low pressure main to provide a difi'erential pressure therein, a Venturi section adjacent said restriction and arranged to dis charge adjacent the vena contracta of said restriction, a conduit connected to flow between the low pressure main and said Venturi section andsecond conduit connecting said control chamber and pressure respcnsive chamber.

3. In an apparatus'of the character described, a low pressure main, an insert removably located in the main comprising a-restriction in said main, a Venturi section within the low pressure main and adjacent said restriction, a pressure responsive device, a conduit for transmitting the pressure in said main to said pressure responsive device, a second conduit for transmitting the pressure in the Venturi section to said first conduit and providing a control chamber therebetween, valve seats in said controlychamber, an adjustable valve closure member cooperating with said seats for controlling the pressure transmitted through said conduits. and a third conduit conmeeting the control chamber with the pressure responsive device.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of high and low pressure mains, a valve between said mains, a pressure responsive chamber having means connected to said valve for controlling flow between said mains, an insert removably located in the low pressure main and forming substantially a continuation thereof, an orifice plate in said insert, a Venturi section in said insert adjacent said orifice plate and ber and pressure responsive chamber.

5. In a pressure control system, the-combination comprising high and low pressure mains, valve means controlling passage between said mains, pressure responsive means connected to operate said valve means, an orifice plate in the low pressure main, a Venturi section within the low pressure main adjacent said orifice plate and arranged to discharge adjacent the vena contracta of said orifice plate, a conduit connected for flow between the throat of said Venturi section and the low pressure main adjacent said orifice plate, a second conduit connected to said pressure responsive means and first conduit, and a valve in'the first conduit to control flow therethrough for determining the pressure in said pressure responsive means.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of high and low pressure mains, valve means controlling passage between said mains, an insert removably located in the low pressure main constituting a body portion and having a restriction to provide a difierential pressure therein and having means for multiplying the pressure difierential, an extension from said body portion constituting a conduit for transmitting pressure from said main to a pressure responsive device, a ported body secured to the end of said extension and having a control chamber therein and valve seats, a bonnet member secured to said ported body, a double acting control closure member in said control chamber cooperating with said seats, and a valve stem secured thereto and passing through said bonnet member.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, a low pressure main, an insert removably located in the low pressure main, an extension on said insert constituting a conduit for transmitting pressure from said main, a T-fitting secured to said extension, a second conduit within said extension providing an avenue therebetween, a ported body having the second conduit secured thereto, said ported body being secured to one branch of the T-fitting, and having a valve chamber therein and a passage connecting the valve chamber and second conduit, a bonnet member secured to said ported body and having a valve stem channel therethrough, a conduit connecting said avenue and said valve stem channel, a valve in said valve chamber, and a valve operating stem in said valve stem channel.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of high and low pressure mains, valve means controlling passage between said mains, pressure responsive means connected to operate said valve means, an orifice plate in the low pressure main, a Venturi section within the low pressure main adjacent said orifice plate and arranged to discharge adjacent the vena contracta of said orifice plate, a conduit connected for flow between the throat of said Venturi section and the low pressure main adjacent said orifice plate, and a second conduit connected to ranged to discharge adjacent the vena contracts of said restriction, a pressure responsive device, a control chamber, a conduit fortransmitting the pressure in said main 'to saidcontrol chamber, a second conduit connected with said control chamber and Venturi section, a valve closuremember adjustably located in said chamher to govern the pressure therein by the flow therethrough, calibrated means extending through said chamber for operating said valve to show the position thereof, and a conduit connected to said control chamber and pressure responsive device.

10. In an apparatus of the character described,

the combination or high and low-pressure mains, -a regulator including valve means controlling high and low pressure chambers with said first conduit outside said control chamber, and a conduit connectingsaid control chamber with said pressure responsive means.

11. In an apparatus of the combination of high and low pressure mains, a regulator including a valve for controllingpassage between said mains and pressure responsive means for operating said valve, an orifice plate,

in the low pressure main to provide a differential pressure therein. a Venturi section in the low pressure main adjacent said orifice plate to multiply the pressure diflerential, a conduit connected for flow between the low pressure main and throat of the Venturisection, said conduit having a plurality of restrictions at least one 0! which is adjustable providing a control chamber therebetween, a diflerential pressure meter assembly having high pressure and low pressure chambers therein, conduits connecting the high and low pressure chambers with said first conduit outside said control chamber, and a conduit connecting said control chamber with said pressure responsive means.

ALLEN D. MACLEAN. FRITZ NIESEMANN.

the character described. 

